The Punjab Healthcare Commission sealed on Wednesday 40 operation theatres of various government and private hospitals after tracing an alarming rate of infections there. Of the sealed operation theatres, 11 were of Mayo Hospital, eight of Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore, three of Jinnah Hospital, two each of National Hospital and Farooq Hospital, private health facilities in Defence and Iqbal Town. The PHC also issued warnings to the Hamid Latif Hospital, located in front of Qadhafi Stadium, for not taking the measures to prevent spread of infection through operation rooms. The commission officials claimed the action was proposed against these hospitals due to unsatisfactory sterilisation arrangements. According to a PHC spokesperson, the theatres have been closed for not complying with the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) prescribed by the commission. In violation of these, the hospitals could not produce laboratory reports indicating absence of germs or bacteria in their operation theatres. The hospitals cannot perform surgical procedures at these theatres and have been warned that the violation might lead to fine and other punishments provided under the rules and regulations.This is a good start. There has always been a great deal of talk regarding cleanliness and hygiene of hospitals, one that is always brushed away or hushed up. If patients are paying hefty amount of money to go to hospitals, especially the private ones, do they not deserve to be treated with the best possible care? The problem of the contamination is more a problem of administration and infrastructure. Infection on the operating table is entirely avoidable. Even with doctors and nurses doing their best, if the environment is not sterilized, the patient is at risk. However, one must also be wary of the fact operation theatres are small in number, while patients are innumerable. With queues outside many of them, this embargo will disturb many patients who might need immediate care. Arrangements need to be improved with haste so that it does not grow into a public health crisis.
pk.shafaqna.com
